Excellent progress at the Living Lab in Menemen, in Türkiye’s Aegean Region, led by UTAEM (Uluslararası Tarımsal Araştırma ve Eğitim Merkezi) demonstrating how simple, low-cost agricultural practices can make a big impact.
In the fall of 2025, the UTAEM team successfully completed the construction of water-harvesting parcels, perfectly timed to capture the first winter rains.
The creation of these structures is part of the suite of measures undertaken by the pilot leader in their efforts to tackle a number of challenges and specifically water scarcity. Such micro-catchments are designed to capture runoff and extend soil moisture availability, storing rainwater in the soil itself rather than in a tank.
A welcome reward followed the 27 January rainfall, as images revealed the micro-catchments in action, capturing water efficiently, boosting soil moisture, and supporting thriving crops.
Solutions implemented in the Living Lab focus on demonstrative activities that promote modern techniques and ecosystem-friendly practices to improve water efficiency, enhance soil health, and support sustainable agriculture in areas where traditional agricultural practices are heavily used. Through pilot demo fields, such as effective irrigation methods and agro-ecological practices in olive orchards, the team is showcasing practical solutions that contribute to the protection of natural resources and boost sustainable agriculture by improving soil quality and water optimisation.
Moreover, in the plots where green manure, intercropping, and mulching have been implemented, the fields are thriving, a snapshot of the team’s work on the ground, turning sustainable solutions into real, scalable impact.
